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Healthy Aging and Older Adults With Autism: A Scoping Review
Mary Kris Stringfellow1, Noelle L Fields1, Kathy Lee1
1School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.
The Gerontologist
|March 23, 2024
Summary
Healthy aging in autistic older adults is understudied, with limited research across key domains like mental health and cognition. More studies are needed to support this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong condition, yet research on older autistic adults remains limited.
- Existing literature primarily focuses on childhood autism, with sparse evidence on healthy aging in autistic older adults compared to allistic populations.
- There is a significant gap in understanding the intersection of autism and aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review of existing literature on healthy aging in autistic older adults.
- To examine the state of research across key domains of healthy aging relevant to this demographic.
- To identify research gaps using the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search to identify relevant studies.
- Data extraction and charting of information from selected articles.
- Synthesis of findings based on predefined domains of healthy aging.
Main Results:
- 35 articles were included in the review.
- Most studies (57%) focused on only one domain of healthy aging.
- Mental health and cognition/memory were the most frequently studied domains, with no study assessing all five domains (physical health, mobility, mental health, cognition, social connectedness).
Conclusions:
- Healthy aging among autistic older adults is significantly under-researched.
- Further research is crucial to develop targeted interventions and services for older autistic individuals and their families.
- Addressing the specific needs of autistic older adults is essential for promoting healthy aging.
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